The Morale of Joseph J. Hoyle and the 55th North Carolina Infantry Regiment

Through the examination of Joseph J. Hoyle's letters to his wife Sara Hoyle one can determine what the Civil War was like for him. In many letters Joseph Hoyle describes to his wife what his daily life is like in camp and in battle providing a window with a plethora of information into the life of a Civil War soldier. Many things were important to Joseph Hoyle, seen through his letters were the love and devotion of his wife and God. Much of what Joseph Hoyle discussed in his letters dealt either directly with morale or what affected morale. This exhibit will examine what caused Joseph Hoyle's and the 55th North Carolina's morale to fluctuate throughout the war.